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Mid-70's - The West Coast Bodybuilding Scene

In the early to mid-70's the West Coast bodybuilding scene was still dominated by the AAU, where it was a poor second cousin to weightlifting. The IFBB still had its major focus on the East Coast and held only one major show a year here in California. It was usually mid-July and always at the Embassy Auditorium in downtown LA.

I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and made an annual pilgrammage to the Southland for this event. I would leave my home around 4 a.m. on the Saturday of the show in my Pinto wagon. I would putt-putt into Pasadena around 11 a.m. and go directly to Bill Pearl's gym. Bill was very gracious and, if around, was always willing to spend a bit of time in idle chit-chat with a fan. I would then head off to Vince's Gym to just look at everything and soak up the atmosphere.

Then is was off to Venice to the original Gold's Gym. If I had the extra $3, I'd spring for a workout. Otherwise I'd just hang around for awhile, talking with whoever was on duty at the desk. Usually after some conversation, the desk guy would just let me work out for no fee.

Then it was back to my car for my lunch (brought with me). After that I'd take a nap on the beach for a couple of hours before heading into town to find a good parking space.

In 1975 the show was absolutely great. It was the first big exposure of the Mentzer brothers and Robbie Robinson. At the auditorium, I hooked up with some friends who had come down from SF later in the day.

The awards ceremony wrapped up around 11:30 pm or so, so my friends and I were on the street heading to where our cars were parked a bit before midnight. We were talking about the show and the differences between the IFBB and the AAU when I wondered out loud why the IFBB did not award Best Bodypart trophies (the AAU had awards for Best Arms, Back, Chest, Legs, Abs, and Most Muscular at most of their contests. One of the goofier aspects of the AAU scene was that an athlete could win three or four sub-divisions and still come in 3rd or 4th!)

After my comment, a voice boomed out from behind us, "We don't want to encourage fetishism!" We stopped, turned around and there was Arnold S walking toward us! With him was Steve Davis (a former Mr. California) and two young ladies. Our little groups merged and we all walked and talked together for a couple of blocks about the AAU/IFBB hassles and the evening's competitors (even then Arnold was not a Mike Mentzer fan). As we came to the corner to part ways, Arnold told us the easiest way to get to the freeway from that point. Splitting up, Arnold pointed his finger at me and said, "Remember, train the whole body! No fetishes!" with a big smile. He also had us promise to attend an exhibition in SF at California Hall in September which was the final tune-up before the Pretoria Mr. Olympia (the subject of the film "Pumping Iron").

I did and it was great, but that's another reminiscence.

Bill2

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